Here are some gifs of the Cheetah 2 in action – give them a few
seconds to load.

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Youtube/MIT

Cheetah 2 can
now perform a running jump after the team uploaded an algorithm
that allows the robot to react to its surroundings.

The robotuses a laser distance
sensor to map its environment, so that objects that do not show
up as a straight line appear as obstacles. The robot can estimate
the size and distance of an obstacle in order to adjust its jump,
according to researchers.

Here, Cheetah 2 demonstrates the running jump as obstacles are
thrown at it, with the biggest hurdle being 40 centimetres tall.

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Youtube/MIT

When it
detects the obstacle, the cheetah replans its step lengths to get
into the right position for the jump. Then, an algorithm
carefully selects how much its legs should thrust to get over the
obstacle.

Here comes the real test. MIT researchers Hae Wong Park, Patrick
Wensing, Sangbae Kim then let the robot off its leash to see
whether it could freely jump three objects in quick succession.
And it did!